Struggling to Connect a VGA Monitor for Your Gaming Rig? Read This First

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

As an avid gamer who loves streaming epic wins in Fortnite and editing Let‘s Play videos for my YouTube channel, having enough monitors is critical. But the old 24-inch VGA LCD from my parents‘ basement only has that 15-pin port on the back. Can I seriously connect it to my gaming PC through a simple USB cable?

The short answer is no, unfortunately VGA and USB use totally different protocols… but with the right VGA-to-USB adapter you‘d be shocked what extra displays you can add. I couldn‘t live without my 3-monitor setup now thanks to these easy workarounds!

See, most modern graphics cards and laptops are doing away with the chunky VGA port as sleeker HDMI and DisplayPort take over. And good riddance—analog VGA can‘t keep pace with today‘s bleeding edge 4K 144Hz gaming monitors.

But say you‘ve got an older LCD TV or spare monitor lying around. With a cheap USB adapter you can put it to good use as a secondary display for Twitch chat, Discord, browsing quest guides and hardware monitoring overlays while you game in all its next-gen glory on the main monitor.

USB vs VGA Ports: It‘s All 1‘s and 0‘s vs Analog Signal Soup

First, quick explainer on why traditional VGA video ports and USB data ports don‘t match up…

VGA relies on analog signal transmission, sending a sweeping electron beam to light up RGB phosphors on a CRT display. Fine for old tube TVs, but not great for precision! Modern flat panels use a digitizer to convert the signal which can get fuzzy at higher res.

Meanwhile, USB communicates using discrete digital 1/0 signals, perfect for shuttling data packets between peripherals like keyboards, webcams and external drives up to blazing 480 Mbps on USB 2.0.

Obviously an analog video signal doesn‘t gel with a digital bus designed for data transfer! That‘s where these nifty video signal converter accessories come in…

Watch Out for Snake Oil! Does THAT USB-VGA Adapter Really Work for Gaming?

Amazon and eBay are crammed with off-brand USB-VGA adapters claiming slick plug-and-play connectivity. And they‘re fine for basic business use – documents and web pages.

But marketing lies abound my friends. After testing a few with popular FPS titles, unplayable lag even at 720p and 30 FPS was obvious. That cheap single-core processor grinding the analog output just creates delays that destroy any chance of fragging n00bs in Apex Legends!

Fortunately, legit vendors making USB video adapters just for gaming exist. The Delock Game Capture 62015 stood out way above the rest. It uses a dedicated video processing chip optimized for fast screen rendering that kept up with my GTX 3080 Ti without choking, even when I had OBS, Twitch Chat and a Razer Synapse dashboard glowing on the side monitor.

Delock has proprietary drivers but I didn‘t run into any glitches setting it up in Windows 11 like I did on some janky adapters needing extra config tweaks. Price tag is a bit scary at $120, though worth it if you want buttery smooth video free of mouse lag when using a USB port.

Maximize Frames Per Second and Get the Most from Extra Displays

Competitive tournaments demand cutting any corner for max FPS. Besides upgrading your GPU, pay attention to your display connectors:

HDMI 1.4 maxes out at 1080p 120 Hz
DisplayPort 1.2 can push 1440p at 165 Hz
DisplayPort 1.4 enables gorgeous 4K at 120 Hz

New specs like HDMI 2.1 allow up to 10K resolution and Display Stream Compression crunches 8K videos through existing cables. Future proof if you‘ve got the hardware!

For pro livestream setups, USB-C and Thunderbolt hubs like the Anker 575 offer quick ports expansion. One USB-C cable from this dock powers my webcam, Elgato game capture interface AND links dual 1440p external monitors at beyond-HD quality. Less cable chaos to distract from dominating!

VGA Had a Good Run – Time to Ditch for Digital Display Nirvana

While analog VGA limps along in conference room projectors and old school CRTs, don‘t suffer screen tearing and motion blur while getting left behind on the battlefield. With the right adapters as a stop gap, embrace the digital HDMI/DisplayPort future to push max frame rates on cutting edge E-Sports monitors!

I‘m gearing up now for battle in the Fortnite World Cup (wish me luck!). But whether it‘s becoming the next PewDiePie or enjoying vivid immersive worlds from Mass Effect to World of Warcraft, there‘s never been a better time to gamer level up your video output. Just make sure to future proof your rig with ports to match!

Let me know what other topics you want me to cover next for the ultimate gaming edge…

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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